Unitary structures for venetian blinds



July 31, 1956 A. A. RADEL EI'AL UNITARY STRUCTURES FOR VENETIAN BLINDSFiled June 22, 1954' FIG.3

FIG.

FIG. 2

INVENTORS AARON A. RADEL PHILLIP W, KATZ BY Sta AT TORNEY United StatesPatentO UNITARY STRUCTURES FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Aaron A. Radel andPhillip W. Katz, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Globe Venetian BlindCorporation, a corporation of Maryland Application June '22, 1954,Serial No. 438,396 Claims. ((31. 160-173 This invention relates tounitary structures of tape clips, tapes, and slats for use in Venetianblinds and to blinds including such unitary structures whereby asimplified blind is obtained that may be readily assembled anddisassembled and yet provides a sturdy structure in use.

In prior art Venetian blinds a great variety of tape clips, slats andbottom rails have been associated to give the blind structure. In mostof such structures the tape clip, the bottom rail cover slat, and thebottom rail are separate elements each of which has to be successivelyand individually positioned with respect to the other. Such arrangementsrequire separate adjustment of each element after positioning so that anumber of steps of assembly or disassembly are required in assembling ordisassembling operations for repair, for cleaning or for any otherpurpose. And frequently, it is necessary to make the parts of specialcooperating contour or construction in order that they may be fittedtogether in a predetermined pattern. Not only do such structures thusrequire a large number of steps to take such blinds apart or to put themtogether, but they require special machining operations to providepredetermined positioning or cooperating parts, and often unnecessarilycomplicated assembly steps.

Among the objects of the present invention is included Venetian blindsin which the tape clip and bottom rail cover slat constitute a unit forholding the ladder tapes, thus providing simplified structure andcorrespondingly ready assembly and disassembly.

Further objects include such structures in which the cooperatingelements may be produced by unitary stamping operations.

Still further objects include a structure where the clip will anchor thecord and tape within the bottom rail fixed in position where desired andat the same time permit for easy removal of the bottom rail or simpledisassembly and reassembly of the blind.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention willappear from the more detailed description set forth below, it beingunderstood that such more detailed description is given by way ofillustration and explanation only, and not by way of limitation, sincevarious changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art, withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In connection with that illustrative more detailed disclosure thedrawing shows the following:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the tape clip;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the clip;

Figure 3 is an assembly of the tape clip, bottom rail cover slat, andladder tape into a unit; and

Figure 4 shows the unit of Figure 3 and the bottom rail associatedtherewith.

In accordance with the present invention, the tape clip, and bottom railcover slat constitute a unit. They are utilized together and cooperateto hold the ladder tapes in position to permit such tapes to be placedreadily at the desired position when the blind is assembled and heldfixed in the set position; and to permit simple disassembly for2,756,816 Patented July 31, 1956 "ice cleaning, adjustment of tapelength, repair or other operation and just as simple reassembly. Suchunit with the tapes in set position may have the bottom rail placedthereon without in any way disturbing the set position of the elementsassociated together in such unit, and similarly the bottom rail may beremoved without necessitating any disarrangement of the clip, coverslat, and ladder tapes unless their separation is desired. Such astructure gives a great many advantages both in manufacture andutilization that will more readily appear after consideration of thepreferred illustrative structure shown in the drawing.

As there shown, the tape clip (Figures 1 and 2) includes top portion 1desirably of slightly arcuate cross-section having two side walls 2depending from top portion 1 walls 2 being substantially vertical. Eachwall 2 has a diagonally upturned lateral flange 3, the outer'edge 4 ofeach flange being inturned to provide an elongated securing element forthe bottom-most slat of the blind. The clip is desirably provided with acord receiving opening or slot 5. Such tape clip may desirably bestamped out of metal by a simple and economical stamping operating.

The clip is constructed for use with bottommost slat or cover slat 6,the arcuate contour of top portion 1 of the clip desirably matching thetransverse contour of slat 6 so that they may come into close contact,edges 7 of slat 6 being held below inturned edges 4 of the clip. Thustape clip and slat constitute a unit and usually two clips will bespaced apart on the slat, the elements being held together in use butmay be sold disassembled as a unit for ultimate utilization. Slat 6 willbe provided with a cord receiving opening or slot 8 adapted to alinewith slot 5 in a clip, so that where two clips are positioned on oneslat, the latter will have two slots 8, each one of which coact with aclip slot 5.

Ladder-tape 9 having usual vertical tape elements 19, cross-tapes 11,and slats 12 is held in position by inserting tape ends 13 in theV-shaped channels 14 and snapping cover slat 6 in position engagingagainst top portion 1 of the clip, with tapes 10 wedged between slatedges 7 and the recesses formed by inturned edges 4. A secure unitassembly is thus obtained. Cord 15 may then pass through opening 8 incover slat 6 and opening 5 in the clip and knotted at 16 in the usualway. Bottom rail 17 may then be positioned by sliding it onlongitudinally over the clip-cover slat unit without disturbing theposition or adjustment of clip, tape, cord and cover slat. Rail 17 isprovided with bottom 18 and sides 19 to form a channel member with eachside 19 having inturned edge 20, the depth of the channel being suchthat with inturned edges 20 being placed in contact with edges 4 of theclip, bottom 18 of rail 17 engages securely against shoulder 21 formedbetween wall 2 and flange 3 to hold the bottom rail securely inposition.

A Venetian blind structure thus obtained gives an economical, simple butsturdy structure in which the tape clips position the tapes and cordssecurely in the desired position. The lengths of tapes and cords may bereadily positioned as desired and securely fixed in any set position.Access to the cord for knotting or otherwise fixing its length is easilyobtained.

Because the clip anchors the cord and tape into a unitary structure withthe cover slat, unitary positioning of clip, cover slat, tape and cordwithin the bottom rail is readily obtained without disturbance of therelation of the several elements with respect to one another. Thus it iseasy to remove the bottom rail or to position it, and simple to take theblind apart for any desired purpose such as cleaning, adjustment of tapeor length of tape or cord, or for repair, or for reassembly. The springtension of the cover slat against the inturned edges of the clip,insures positive positioning, ready adjustability, and sturdinesswithout complex securing elements or multifarious assembly steps. 7 Thenumber of associated parts is reduced to an absolute minimum withoutnecessity of unusual machining or stamping operations. Such simplicitypermits clips, slats, and bottom rails to be produced by stamping andrelated operation-s readily and economically carried out. The cover slatis secured in position and held fixedly so that uncovering of the bottomrail does not take place and a pleasing appearance is always presentedby the assembled blind. There are no projections or lugs on clips,slats, or rails to require special manufacturing operations or to strikeagainst surfaces of the elements with consequent damage to structure orappearance.

The unit of clips, cover slat, tapes, and cords, slides into the bottomrail, retains the tape in exact alinement by the positioning of the clipagainst the ladder of the tape, the unit utilizes the cover slat forthis purpose and not the bottom rail, the slat is positioned by thecontoured clips, the ends of the tape are concealed, positive engagementof parts is obtained eliminating any possibility of the tape beingpulled out, and importantly the tape is kept removed from the edge ofthe bottom rail so that the tape cannot be inadvertently or accidentallypulled out or cut or misaligned. It also permits easy removal by slidingthe bottom rail off to shorten the blind, to replace tapes, forcleaning, or any other operation. Reassembly is readily accomplished inany adjusted position.

Having thus set forth our invention, We claim:

1. In a Venetian blind, a unit including a tape clip and cover slat incombination, the tape clip comprising a top portion, side wallsdepending therefrom, a diagonally upturned flange on each side wall, aninturned edge on each upturned flange for gripping a Venetian blind tapebetween said slat and said edge, and the cover slat removably positionedon said clip with the slat in contact With the top portion of the clipand the edges of the slat engaging against the inturned edges on theupturned flanges, said unit adapted to be enclosed at its sides andbottom by a bottom rail member.

2. A unit as set forth in claim 1 in which the clip has a cord receivingslot and the slat has a cord receiving slot alined with the slot in theclip.

3. A unit as set forth in claim 1 in which a ladder tape is held inposition in the unit with a vertical tape member secured between eachslat edge and a coacting inturned edge on an upturned flange.

4. In a Venetian blind, a unit as set forth in claim 3 and a bottom railmember having upper edges which ride over the upturned flanges of theunit.

5. In a Venetian blind, a unit as set forth in claim 1 and a bottom railmember having upper edges Which ride over the upturned flanges of theunit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,598,575 Martin et al May 27, 1952 2,618,329 Nelson Nov. 18, 19522,627,917 Lind Feb. 10, 1953

